League of New Hampshire Craftsmen celebrates return of its annual fair
After a year without an in-person fair, artisans from the League of New Hampshire Craftsmen overwhelmingly agree about one thing: They can’t wait to see the crowds and their fellow artisans at this year’s annual fair at Mount Sunapee Resort.
“The craftspeople are as excited to be back at the mountain as you can possibly imagine,” said Laury Nichols, a woodcarver from Chichester.
Lisa DeMio of Hampstead, who makes fiber wearables, echoed that sentiment.
“The artists are super excited to be back there,” she said. “It’s one of those places where I feel very at home. … This particular show has so many amazing artists. I’m looking forward to being able to see and touch and feel everything and connect with friends.”
The 88th Annual Craftsmen’s Fair is happening Saturday, Aug. 7, through Sunday, Aug. 15, and is one of the few arts events of its scope and size this year, according to Miriam Carter, executive director of the League of New Hampshire Craftsmen.
“We’re in New Hampshire and we’ve gotten through Covid in a way that a lot of states haven’t,” Carter said. “I’m expecting a great response from the public.”
The fair will look a little different, with booths spaced farther apart and fewer artisans, and visitors are encouraged to buy their tickets online to get through the gate quickly. But beyond that, the fair should be everything it has been in past years — and then some.
“[The artisans have] had a year off to create work, so I’m really excited to see what they’ve done in that time,” Carter said.
She said she’s already seen some of the work that will be in the Art, Craft & Design Exhibition — a gallery that’s set up in the middle of the fair — and it’s some of the best she’s seen.
“I think they took advantage of their time off the road to … be creative and innovative,” Carter said.
There will be demonstrations this year, Carter said, following Covid precautions. Instead of the more intimate clay turning booth, for example, they will have precreated clay tiles, which people can use to create a textured piece that they can bring home and paint. Many of the demonstrations and hands-on activities are free, Carter said.
There’s also the Art, Craft & Design Exhibition and the Sculpture Garden, plus new food offerings, and, for the first time, alcohol will be available for purchase on the fairgrounds. The Adventure Park at Mount Sunapee Resort will be open, and the lift will be running for people who might want to ride up and hike down. But that’s all gravy.
“The best part of the fair is you get to meet the artists and you get to see what they’ve been up to,” Carter said.
Meet five of those artists, who talked about their work, what’s new this year and why they can’t wait for the fair.
Clay
Pottery by Michael Gibbons.
Michael Gibbons of Derry
What he makes: Functional stoneware for everyday use, like coffee mugs, bowls and teapots. “I’ve been making pottery since about 1980 and I love doing it,” Gibbons said. “I love the fact that it starts off as almost nothing and transforms into something nice and functional.” Gibbons’ work focuses on nature, with mountains adorning many pieces and a line of products made with white clay that look like birch bark.
What’s new this year: With a year off from fairs, Gibbons said he focused on producing, and he developed some new glazes. “My color palette is much broader than it was two years ago,” he said. “I have a red raspberry glaze, and I have a green glaze that I introduced. … I came up with a different glaze for my birch [products] too — less shine and more matte.”
Why he can’t wait for the fair: “It’s the highlight of my year just being around so many talented, great people,” he said. “I’m also excited to see how well-received the new colors are.”
Fiber wearables
Lisa DeMio of Hampstead
Bag by Lisa DeMoi.
What she makes: Accessories, predominantly for women, like handbags, totes and cosmetic bags. They feature hand-printed linen, leather, cotton and waxed canvas. DeMio started sewing years ago, and as her four children got older, she became interested in fabrics and textiles. She found a handbag pattern and made one for herself, then was promptly asked by one friend after another to make bags for them. “It’s one of those things that everybody needs,” she said. “Everybody needs to [carry stuff], and you might as well look good doing it.”
What’s new this year: “I have some new hand-printed fabrics that I’m really excited about,” DeMio said. She said one of the artists that she admires has started to make hand-printed fabrics again, so she’s been able to create some of her products using those. “I have a very limited number of those bags,” she said.
Why she can’t wait for the fair: “Just seeing people again — this is the first live event I’ll have done since February of 2020,” she said. “It’s one of those places where I feel very at home — with my products in my booth and [on the fairgrounds].”
Fine jewelry
Kristin Kennedy of Concord
What she makes: One-of-a-kind jewelry pieces made with precious metals and gemstones. Her inspiration is based on nature and her outdoor experiences, like hiking the mountains and swimming in the ocean.
What’s new this year: Kennedy has a few new collections, including the Everlasting collection that features pieces with rose-cut emeralds and London Blue topaz, and a Nuevo Deco collection that features pieces with rose-cut aquamarines, step-cut chocolate diamonds and champagne diamonds.
Why she can’t wait for the fair: “I’m definitely looking forward to seeing lots of familiar faces, being able to celebrate being together, enjoying art together,” she said. “Most of my customers I’ve had for 20 years, so it’s fun to see them.” Kennedy said she typically checks out the fair herself on the last day. “It’s fun to get to know the artists and handpick some of their special designs,” she said. “It’s a great opportunity to support local artists and appreciate some of the finer things.” This is Kennedy’s 20th year at the Craftsmen’s Fair, and she said it’s the only one she participates in. “I think it’s one of the most highly acclaimed art shows in the country.”
Wood carvings
Laury Nichols from Chichester
Badger by Laury Nichols.
What she makes: Whimsical woodland animal characters and custom woodcarving projects. The carvings are mainly characters she designs herself, and she has a few characters from children’s books like The Wind in the Willows and Beatrix Potter’s tales. With the carvings just inches tall, Nichols said she’ll be bringing about 500 of them to the fair.
What’s new this year: Nichols said she always has new carvings, and this year her booth itself is brand new. She took an online wooden puppet making class during the pandemic, so she’ll have a few puppets and will be taking orders for them. She has also created cards with pictures of her woodcarvings, but since she’s juried as a woodcarver, she’s not allowed to sell anything but woodcarvings. So instead, she’s giving away a free pack of “Celebrate” cards to anyone who asks.
Why she can’t wait for the fair: “I’m so excited to see everyone again, and I know the public is excited to be back to the fair,” Nichols said. “I [especially] love it when children come into my booth. They are so great. … I make free stuff for kids — I was an art kind of kid, and talking to real artists was very inspirational and influential.”
Wood sculptures
Donna Zils Banfield of Derry
What she makes: Sculptural art made out of wood. “Most of my work will appeal to about 10 percent of the people who will be at the fair,” Zils Banfield said. “It’s sculptural art — it’s not utilitarian, it’s not functional.” One example is her Wood Ffolkkes, a community of sculptural wood people that come in various shapes and sizes, with different moods, personalities, wardrobes, loves and hates, but all created from the same core. “At our basic core, we’re all the same,” she said. Zils Banfield started participating in the Craftsmen’s Fair in 2012 as a bowl turner. “I’ve slowly moved into the more nonfunctional artwork,” she said. “I knew early on that I had to be more than a bowl turner.” Zils Banfield said this kind of work is much more intricate, taking days, weeks or months to complete one piece, so she usually has several pieces going at a time. “Nothing is done quickly, which is unusual for the wood turning world,” she said.
What’s new this year: “I have a new sculptural piece that is going to be titled ‘Cityscapes,’” she said. It features 3D images carved into the wood with small particles of 24k gold leaves and silver leaves for the skyscrapers and the stars.
Why she can’t wait for the fair: “Seeing the people that I miss, both my fellow peers and the people who come to the fair to see me and to see my work,” Zils Banfield said. She said she loves showing her new pieces to past customers. “Every year I have at least one new idea that appears in my booth.”
More than a craft fair Woodcarver Laury Nichols shared her recommendation for how to approach the fair. “If you go to the fair only to buy stuff … you miss a huge amount. If you look for only acquisition you will miss the staggering artwork and craftwork. If you go with the mindset to just marvel … it is just amazing. … If you buy something and you’ve talked to the person who made it … there’s something about knowing that it’s handmade and knowing the face of the person who made it and having the conversation with that person.”
The 88th Annual League of New Hampshire Craftsmen’s Fair
Where: Mount Sunapee Resort, 1398 Route 103, Newbury When: Saturday, Aug. 7, through Sunday, Aug. 15, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day, rain or shine Cost: General admission for one day is $16 for adults, or $24 for two days. Seniors are $14, and children under 12 get in free. Online ticket sales prior to the event are encouraged at nhcrafts.org.
Featured photo: Wood Ffolkkes by Donna Zils Banfield. Courtesy photo.
When Patrick Malfait founded the Contoocook River Canoe Co. in 1997, kayaking was still up and coming as a mainstream recreational sport in New Hampshire. Now he’s in his 25th season, offering a wide variety of canoes and kayaks for sale or for rent so people can enjoy paddling along the Contoocook River in Concord. A second operation was later launched under the name Merrimack River Canoe & Kayak, where you can do the same on Hooksett’s Merrimack River.
“We started with just renting canoes,” Malfait said. “Then a couple of years later the kayak just became very popular and the canoe kind of took a backseat for a while. … The popularity of canoeing has come back, but kayaking is still far ahead of canoeing [in] sales and rentals.”
Both canoeing and kayaking have their own unique advantages and features that can be best suited to particular uses. In general, a kayak may be smaller, faster and easier to maneuver, whereas a canoe is often larger, more stable and easier to enter and exit.
“When you’re in a single kayak, you’re one with the water. It’s just you and your boat … so it’s exciting for people to get out there and be able to control their boat by themselves,” Malfait said.
As the years have gone on, kayak manufacturers have introduced newer models tailored to specific purposes. There are multiple types of kayaks, from single recreational kayaks to touring or sea kayaks, and even kayaks with their own built-in accessories designed for fishing.
But canoes can be great to take out on the water too — especially, Malfait said, if you’re part of a larger group or are preparing for a bit of a longer trip.
“A canoe is a really great family vessel to go out and spend the day on the river or on the lake,” he said. “You can put everything and the kitchen sink in there, which you can’t do in a single kayak. It’s just a whole different experience, and for some people it’s more like being at home.”
Other than families with children, Malfait said, canoe rentals are also popular among older active adults, as well as traditionalists who enjoy an activity he pointed out has been around for hundreds of years. Rentals for both canoes and kayaks are an attractive option for those who don’t have the means to store or transport them or are getting into the sport for the first time.
Rental rates at the Contoocook River Canoe Co. are by the day, while for the Merrimack River operation there are additional options to have your boat out on the water per two-hour or four-hour block. If you’re going out on the Contoocook River, Malfait said, there is also a shuttle option to bring you and your boat about 9 miles upriver to paddle back to the beach.
All boats must be off the water by 5 p.m. each day, but that doesn’t mean canoeing or kayaking has to be a full-day commitment either. In fact, during the height of the pandemic last year, Malfait said he noticed many more short-term paddlers out on the water.
“We saw a large increase of late afternoon business, and it was all city people,” he said. “They’d only be out there for an hour or two but they loved it. For them, it was a getaway.”
In Nashua, Bill James first became interested in trying kayaking more than a decade ago when, on a bike ride in Mine Falls Park, he passed by a family of paddlers. Now he owns Nashua Kayak Rental, a by-appointment business offering single or double kayak rentals on Saturdays and Sundays. Renters can arrange meetings at one of the Nashua River’s public boat launches.
“Typically, I like to bring people to the Millyard Technology Park where there’s a public boat ramp, and I also use the Mine Falls Park boat ramp,” James said. “As long as I don’t have multiple appointments in one location that tie me to a given spot, we can wander around a bit. … For the most part, though, I just let people enjoy it however they want to.”
Reservations can be made through Nashua Kayak Rental’s website or Facebook page, and James will provide everything from your kayak and paddle to your life jacket.
“[Kayaking] is a really nice way to get out and explore … and the best part of renting is that you can go out and do it whenever you want and not have to deal with storage or transport,” he said.
Unless you’re on private property or a body of water that is only open to town residents, you can go pretty much anywhere with a canoe or kayak. Each is considered a non-motorized vehicle under New Hampshire law, meaning they are not required to register in the state. You are required, however, to always wear a life jacket while out on the water, Malfait said.
“There’s tons of information out there,” he said. “The AMC [Appalachian Mountain Club] has guides that they’ve produced that tell you where you can put boats in and take boats out, and there are meetup groups where people are paddling a different body of water each week.”
NH AMC Paddlers
The New Hampshire chapter of the Appalachian Mountain Club maintains a regular schedule of upcoming outdoor group activities across the state, including for canoeing and kayaking. Visit amcnh.org/committees/paddling, or follow them on Facebook “NH AMC Paddlers.”
Contoocook River Canoe Co.
9 Horse Hill Road, Concord, 753-9804, contoocookcanoe.com
Hours: Daily, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Cost: Canoes and kayaks are both available to rent for use on the Contoocook River. Rates vary depending on the type and size capacity of the boat — $35 for a canoe or two-person kayak, $28 for a one-person 12-foot kayak and $33 for a one-person 14- to 16-foot kayak. Rates are for single-day use, with all boats off the water by 5 p.m. each day. Shuttle services about 9 miles upriver are also available.
Cost: Canoes and kayaks are both available to rent for use on the Merrimack River. Rates vary depending on the type and size capacity of the boat, with block pricing for two hours, four hours or a single day. A one-person kayak, for example, is $20 for two hours, $35 for four hours or $45 for the day.
Nashua Kayak Rental
nashuakayakrental.com, and on Facebook @nashuakayak
Hours: Saturday and Sunday, by appointment
Cost: One-person or two-person kayaks are available for rent for use on the Nashua River. Rates are $30 for two hours for a single kayak, or $50 for two hours for a two-person kayak. Weekend meetings with owner-operator Bill James are available by appointment at the public boat ramps at Mine Falls Park (Stadium Drive, near Stellos Stadium) or at the Millyard Technology Park (Technology Way).
More Places to Paddle
Here’s a list of more spots in southern New Hampshire, including some lakes and state parks, that offer canoe or kayak rentals or have public boat launches people can use to go canoeing or kayaking.
• Baboosic Lake (25 Broadway, Amherst, amherstnh.myrec.com) • Bear Brook State Park (61 Deerfield Road, Allenstown, nhstateparks.com) • Beaver Lake (Pond Road, Derry, beaver-lake.org) • Clough State Park (455 Clough Park Road, Weare, nhstateparks.com) • Crystal Lake (186 Crystal Lake Road, Gilmanton, gilmantonnh.org) • Glen Lake (300 Elm St., Goffstown, goffstown.com) • Island Pond (Stickney Road, Atkinson, town-atkinsonnh.com) • Lake Massabesic (Londonderry Turnpike, Auburn, manchesternh.gov) • Lake Sunapee (Mount Sunapee State Park, 86 Beach Access Road, Newbury, nhstateparks.org) • Lake Winnipesaukee (Multiple towns in Belknap and Carroll counties, lakewinnipesaukee.net) • Lake Winnisquam (Water Street, Laconia, winnisquamwatershed.org/public-access) • Naticook Lake (Veterans Park Drive, Merrimack, merrimacknh.gov) • Pawtuckaway State Park (7 Pawtuckaway Road, Nottingham, nhstateparks.org) • Pillsbury State Park (100 Pillsbury State Park Road, Washington, nhstateparks.org) • Silver Lake State Park (138 Silver Lake Road, Hollis, nhstateparks.org)
Cruising along
Scenic views from the comfort of a boat
by Meghan Seigler
From harbor seals in the Atlantic to great blue herons on Squam Lake, there’s a good chance you’ll see wildlife in the water and along the shores when you take a scenic cruise — and the views along the way are pretty photo-worthy too.
“Normally we go straight out to White Island to see the lighthouse,” said Pete Reynolds of Granite State Whale Watch and Island Cruises in Rye, which offers tours of the Isles of Shoals on Uncle Oscar, a 62-foot-long single-deck boat. “All the islands are scenic in their own right.”
Lake Education Cruise 2019. Photo courtesy of Squam Lakes Natural Science Center.
During the 5½-mile trip from Rye Harbor to the Isles, they often see marine porpoises and the occasional whale sighting, though Reynolds said those are fairly rare.
“Pretty frequently around the island we’ll see both harbor seals and grey seals,” Reynolds said.
“We see cormorants … and a tern colony … that’s always a favorite of bird watchers.”
The ocean tours are narrated, with the captain sharing the history of the islands, and unlike many scenic cruises, Uncle Oscar docks mid-tour to let passengers off to explore Star Island.
“[It’s] a great walking island,” Reynolds said. “It’s only 46 acres so you can explore pretty much the entire island when you’re on it.”
He said there’s an old stone chapel from the 1800s, replica stone buildings that recreate the fishing village that used to be on the island, short hiking trails and plenty of scenic views of the Atlantic.
Of course, New Hampshire has plenty of lakes too, which offer a different kind of cruise experience — and those differ from lake to lake, says Amanda Gillen, marketing manager for Squam Lakes Natural Science Center.
“I think the biggest thing for people to know is that Squam Lake is not Lake Winnipesaukee,” she said, referring to cruises aboard the M/S Mount Washington on New Hampshire’s biggest lake. “It has a very different, quieter, slower, more natural feel.”
The Science Center’s cruise is 90 minutes long and is a narrated tour of the whole lake, with cruise captains talking about the history of the area, the wildlife and sights like Church Island and other conservation land. The boats are covered pontoon boats and currently only hold 18 passengers.
“It’s a nice intimate experience,” Gillen said.
Gillen said passengers can expect to see wildlife like common loons, cormorants, great blue herons, muskrats, mink, swimming squirrels and bald eagles.
“We typically have a nesting pair of bald eagles on Squam Lake,” Gillen said. “The pair is around this year but did not successfully rear any chicks so the adults don’t stay by the nest for the easy view. … On one cruise a couple of years ago … an eagle flew down to catch a fish and the fish was so large that the eagle was using its wings to almost swim in order to get the fish to the closest shore. Everyone was pretty excited to see that.”
Gillen said the Squam Lake cruises are typically geared more toward adults and families with older kids.
“Marine patrol requires all children ages 12 and under to wear a lifejacket and we find that sometimes very little kids … don’t enjoy that for the full tour,” she said.
Take a scenic cruise Enjoy nature and wildlife on a lake or on the ocean.
Lake cruises
Experience Squam 859 U.S. 3, Holderness, 968-3990, experiencesquam.com Experience Squam is a private boating excursion aboard a 23-foot Sea Ray Bow-Rider that caters to your boating preferences, with all kinds of options available, like sunset cruises, star gazing, tours of historic Church Island and On Golden Pond movie sites and opportunities to anchor and swim. The boat fits up to 12 people and prices and schedules vary depending on number of people, length of ride and activities.
Mount Washington Cruises 211 Lakeside Ave., Weirs Beach, Laconia, 366-5531, cruisenh.com The M/S Mount Washington offers 2½-hour narrated scenic tours as well as Sunday brunch cruises, dinner and cocktail cruises on Lake Winnipesaukee (prices range from $40 to $65 per person). A smaller boat, the M/V Doris E., offers one-hour scenic tours of the islands of western Lake Winnipesaukee ($25 per person). The U.S. Mailboat offers two-hour cruises while providing postal service to island residents ($40 per person). See website for cruise schedules.
Sunapee Cruises 1 Lake Ave., Sunapee, 938-6465, sunapeecruises.com Tour Lake Sunapee on an afternoon narrated cruise aboard the MV MT Sunapee II or an evening dinner cruise aboard the MV Kearsarge Restaurant Ship. The afternoon cruise is 1½ hours long and leaves at 2 p.m. daily now through Labor Day, then Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through Columbus Day. The cost is $22 for adults, $20 for military, seniors and AAA members, $12 for kids 6 to 12, and free for kids under 6. The dinner cruise is two hours long and leaves daily at 6:30 p.m. now through Labor Day, and at 5:30 p.m. after Labor Day. The cost is $45.99 for the cruise, dinner buffet and dessert. Children 12 and under are $32.99 (no children’s pricing on Fridays and Saturdays).
Squam Lakes Natural Science Center 23 Science Center Road, Holderness, 968-7194, nhnature.org Cruises are 90 minutes long and on canopied pontoon boats. There are several options available, including a Bald Eagle Adventure and a Loon Cruise. The cost is $27 for adults, $25 for seniors and $23 for children through age 15. See website for schedule.
Ocean cruises
Granite State Whale Watch and Island Cruises 1870 Ocean Blvd., Rye, 964-5545, granitestatewhalewatch.com The boat leaves twice a day, at 11 a.m. and 2:30 p.m., and ocean tours are about three hours long, including the boat ride and a stop at Star Island for an optional walking tour and time to explore. Tours are offered until about mid-September. The cost is $35 for adults, $32 for ages 60+, $26 for ages 4 to 16, and free for kids under 4.
There are also several ocean cruises available based out of Portsmouth, including the Gundalow Co. (433-9505, gundalow.org), the Isles of Shoals Steamship Co. (islesofshoals.com, 800-441-4620) and Portsmouth Harbor Cruises (portsmouthharbor.com, 800-776-0915).
Stand up and go
Paddleboarding is a simple way to get on the water
by Angie Sykeny
Paddleboarding is a popular water sport in New Hampshire, and for good reason, said local paddleboard guide Shaun Quinn.
Photo courtesy of SUP-NH Paddleboard.
“We have 14 miles of seacoast, plus all of the lakes and rivers, and you can paddleboard on almost all of them,” Quinn said. “It’s the perfect way to take advantage of the state’s natural resources.”
A paddleboard is like a surfboard, but wider. Traditionally, the paddleboarder stands on the board and uses a paddle to move across the water or ride the waves, but there are a variety of other ways to use a paddleboard, too.
“They’re pretty versatile,” Quinn said. “You can move your position around, sit down, lie down, kneel, surf on them, get a tan on them, do yoga on them — so many different things with this one single, small watercraft.”
You don’t have to be a “surfer kind of person,” to paddleboard, Quinn said; paddleboards are more forgiving and easier to maneuver than surfboards. Almost anyone can do it, regardless of their age, body type or athletic ability, he said, and most people pick it up quickly.
Local paddleboard instructor Chris Shields agreed and said that even people with physical challenges can usually find a paddleboarding position that’s feasible for them.
“If you can stand on the ground, you can paddleboard,” he said, “and if you’re someone who has trouble walking or standing, then you can just sit. It’s that easy.”
Paddleboarding appeals to people for a number of different reasons, Quinn and Shields said. For one, it’s a way to enjoy the outdoors and explore the water that’s “more accessible” than taking out a kayak or a canoe, Shields said.
“It’s easy to just pop in the water and go,” he said, “and, if you’re standing and looking down at the water, you actually get a [larger] perspective and can see more of what’s around you than you can in a kayak or canoe, which is really cool.”
Paddleboarding can also be good for your health, Quinn said. If you paddle properly, it’s a full-body workout that works “every muscle from your ankles to your core to your shoulders,” he said. Mentally, paddleboarding may be a way to relax and unwind.
“It’s a fantastic activity for the mind,” he said. “For me, it’s all about the simplicity of it; it’s just me, the board and the paddle, and that goes a long way to help me calm and focus my mind.”
Through his paddleboarding guide business The Wandering Paddler, Quinn offers private tours and lessons for people who are looking to paddleboard in New Hampshire. He also picks up and drops off the board and paddle rentals for his customers.
“I’ll go wherever people want to paddle, and if they don’t know where to go to paddle, I’m their guy,” he said.
Shields also offers paddleboard equipment rentals and lessons through his business SUPNH and said the demand is “bigger than ever.”
“If you’re someone who likes being out on the water, just give it a try for a day,” he said. “It will be worth it.”
Go Paddleboarding
Contoocook River Canoe Co. Offers paddleboard sales, rentals, instruction and guided tours. Retail shop is at 9 Horse Hill Road, Concord. Rentals are $25 for a half day (9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.) and $35 for a full day (9 a.m. to 5 p.m.). Lessons with 30 minutes of instruction and one hour of coaching on the water cost $35 per person, with the paddleboard rental included. Call 753-9804 or visit contoocookcanoe.com.
Hampton Beach Parasail & Paddle Board Offers paddleboard rentals out of its shop at 1 Ocean Blvd., Hampton, starting at $25 for one hour. Call 929-4386 or visit hamptonparasail.com.
Merrimack River Canoe & Kayak Offers paddleboard rentals out of its shop at 35 Edgewater Drive, Hooksett. Rates are $20 for two hours, $35 for four hours and $45 for a full day. Call 406-1462 or visit paddlemerrimack.com.
Portsmouth Paddle Co. Offers paddleboard sales, rentals, lessons, tours and yoga sessions. Retail shop is at 70 Heritage Ave., Portsmouth. Rentals start at $40 for two hours. Lessons range from $95 for one person to $60 per person in a group of four and include on-land instruction followed by 45 minutes of on-water coaching. Various tour options are available, starting at $60. Various yoga classes and workshops are held every day of the week, starting at $60. Call 777-7428 or visit portsmouthpaddleco.com.
Seacoast Paddleboard Club A paddleboarding social club based in Portsmouth, with community paddles held every Tuesday night from May through September. Open ocean paddles for intermediate to advanced paddlers are held every Sunday from June through mid-September on the ocean and typically range from 8 to 12 miles. All paddles are free with a yearly membership fee of $50. Visit seacoastpaddleboardclub.com or call 498-8198.
Seven Rivers Paddling Offers paddleboard tours, lessons and rentals out of its shop at 185 Wentworth Road, Portsmouth. Rentals cost $45 for three hours and $75 for a full day (9 a.m. to 4 pm.). Tours cost $65 and run for two-and-a-half hours. Visit sevenriverspaddling.com or call 969-5120.
Summer Sessions Offers paddleboard lessons and rentals out of its two shops, at 15 Vaughn Mall, Portsmouth, and 2281 Ocean Blvd., Rye. One-hour lessons cost $65 for one person and $55 per person for groups of two or more. Rentals cost $35 for a half day and $45 for a full day. Visit newhampshiresurf.com or call the Rye shop at 319-8207 or the Portsmouth shop at 373-8147.
SUP-NH Paddleboard Offers paddleboard rentals, lessons, repairs and sales. Retail shop is at 10 Mount Major Highway, Alton Bay. Rental options range from two hours for $30 to seven days for $280. A one-hour lesson is $45 per person or $40 per person in groups of three or more. Call 833-1211 or visit supnh.com.
The Wandering Paddler Mobile service offering paddleboard tours, lessons and rentals throughout New Hampshire. Lessons and private tours cost $45 for two hours and $25 for each additional hour. Specialty tours, like a full moon paddle, are also available for $60. Rentals range from $35 for two hours to $250 for a week and include board delivery and pickup. Call 380-5077 or visit wanderingpaddler.com.
Wild Meadow Paddlesports Rentals & Sales Offers paddleboard rentals and sales out of its shop at 6 Whittier Highway, Moultonborough. Rentals cost $50 per day (9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) or $275 for a week. Call 253-7536 or visit wildmeadowpaddlesports.com.
Featured photo: Photo courtesy of Contoocook River Canoe Company, LLC.
The Sunflower Festival at the Coppal House Farm (118 N. River Road in Lee; 659-3572) continues today and through the weekend, wrapping up on Sunday, Aug. 8. The field is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Admission for weekdays costs $8 per person ($6 for kids ages 5 to 12 and for seniors and military and free for kids ages 4 and under). On the weekends, admission costs $12 per person ($10 for kids ages 5 to 12 and for seniors and military and free for kids ages 4 and under). Tickets are available at nhsunflower.com and at the farm stand. The festival also features an artisan craft fair on Saturday and Sunday, food vendors (including Flag Hill Distillery and Winery, Coppa Magica, El Camino and Fabian’s European Pastries on Saturday) and souvenir photo shoots for sale, according to the website.
On the weekend, find live music including, on Saturday, Artty Francoeur (10 a.m.), Green Heron (at noon), Borscht (2 p.m.) and Chris Reagan (4 p.m.), and on Sunday, Long Journey (10 a.m.), Decatur Creek (noon), Grim Brothers (2 p.m.) and Cedar Mountain (4 p.m.).
Other special events planned for the rest of the festival run. Today is Fairytale Day with visits from special characters and fairy house building starting at 2:30 p.m., according to the website. Friday, Aug. 6, from 3 to 5 p.m. is Old Truck Day when you can see old trucks and talk to restorers. Children’s story times will run from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 7, and Sunday, Aug. 8.
Thursday, Aug. 5
New Hampshire Fisher Cats continue their run of home games at Northeast Delta Dental Stadium (1 Line Drive in downtown Manchester; nhfishercats.com) with games against the Hartford Yard Goats through Sunday, Aug. 8. Games Thursday through Saturday start at 7:05 p.m.; Sunday’s game starts at 1:35 p.m. Before Sunday’s game, the Fisher Cats will host a Princesses at the Park brunch (tickets cost $24) featuring a pancake breakfast and appearances by princesses. Sunday will also feature a Gatos Feroces hat giveaway and kids run the bases, according to the promotions schedule. Post-game fireworks are scheduled for Thursday and Saturday.
Thursday, Aug. 5
The Nashua Silver Knights have three games on the schedule for the next seven days at Holman Stadium (67 Amherst St. in Nashua). Tonight at 6 p.m. they play the Westfield Starfires. On Friday, Aug. 6, they play the Vermont Lake Monsters, also at 6 p.m., with post-game fireworks. On Tuesday, Aug. 10, a doubleheader against the New Britain Bees starts at 3 p.m. Tickets to games start at $8 for adults, $6 for kids. See nashuasilverknights.com.
Friday, Aug. 6
Catch comedian Frank Santorelli tonight at 7:30 p.m. at the Rex Theatre (23 Amherst St. in Manchester; palacetheatre.org, 668-5588). Tickets cost $25.
Saturday, Aug. 7
The Belknap County 4-H Fair runs today from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and tomorrow, Aug. 8, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., at 174 Mile Hill Road in Belmont. Events include 4-H agricultural events (a horse show at 9 a.m. on Saturday, a poultry hall at 1 p.m.) and live entertainment such as magic (Sunday at 10 a.m. and noon) and music (including Cedar Mountain Bluegrass Band at 2 p.m. on Saturday and the Blue Monsters at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday). Admission costs $8 ($7 for seniors and free for kids under 10 and for military with ID). See bcfairnh.org.
Save the Date! Saturday, Aug. 28
Order today to get the gyro plate, rice pudding, loukoumades, kourambiedes, feta or spinach peta, pastichio and of course baklava during the Greekfest Express at Assumption Greek Orthodox Church (111 Island Pond Road in Manchester; 623-2045, assumptionnh.org). As with other foodie events at Assumption over the last year, this event is pre-order and drive-thru pick-up only. Go to foodfest.assumptionnh.org to order your Greekfest favorites by Sunday, Aug. 22, and select a time on Saturday, Aug. 28, for pick-up.
July 2021 has set the record as the rainiest July documented in southern New Hampshire. According to the Union Leader, Concord had received 10.69 inches of rain as of July 23, surpassing the record set in 1915 with 10.29 inches. The rain has been particularly hard on Seacoast businesses that rely on good summer weather, Hampton Area Chamber of Commerce president John Nyhan said in the article, and on Seacoast vacationers and tourists who spent hundreds or thousands of dollars on their stay, only to be stuck inside.
Score: -1
Comment: Concord has been keeping an official rainfall record since 1868, making this year’s July rainfall the most the city has seen in at least 153 years.
Scootering around
Electric scooters are coming to Manchester and will be available through an app, where riders can pay to use the scooter by the minute. According to a press release, Manchester is partnering with L.A.-based Bird Rides to bring in the e-scooters at no cost to the city. “We heard from a lot of businesses who were looking for micromobility options for their employees to easily travel from the Millyard to downtown,” Mayor Joyce Craig said in the release. The scooters can be used on roads and in bike lanes and have a maximum speed of 15 miles per hour. Riders must be at least 18 and are required to obey standard rules of the road, and they are encouraged to wear a helmet.
Score: +1
Comment:“As a company with 70+ employees moving from Elm Street to the Millyard later this year, we know it’s important to keep professionals coming to work in this city and visiting our shops and cafes,” Mike Collins, CEO and founder of Alumni Adventures, said in the release. “We’ve already had a few employees buy a bike helmet this week to keep at the office for quick trips around town.”
Where’s my package?
New Hampshire residents rank among the highest in the country when it comes to searching online for mail delivery delays, according to a recent survey released by 4over, a California-based company specializing in direct mail and printing services. According to the company’s findings, 4over surveyed more than 2,000 consumers and more than 200 Google search terms related to the phrase “delivery delays” in every state. In New Hampshire, we placed 5th overall in the United States, behind two of our neighbors (Rhode Island at No. 3 and Vermont at No. 1). Elsewhere in New England, Maine came in at No. 8, Connecticut at No. 12 and Massachusetts at No. 15.
Score: -1
Comment:The survey also found that 73 percent of people feel a sense of anxiety when their package is delayed, yet 65 percent of them feel that delivery tracking can be addicting.
Tennis for the greater good
Three New Hampshire high school students are using their love of tennis to help underprivileged youth, according to WMUR. They’ve organized a new fundraiser, Rally for Tennis, to benefit Advantage Kids, an organization that serves at-risk youth and provides opportunities for them to get involved in healthy activities like tennis and yoga. The students had raised $8,932, according to the fundraising page as of Aug. 3, and are hoping to meet their goal of $10,000.
Score: +1
Comment: Rally for Tennis will be held on Sunday, Aug. 15, at Longfellow New Hampshire Tennis and Swim Club in Nashua. Visit rallyfortennis.com to register for the event and donate.
QOL score: 82 Net change: 0 QOL this week: 82
What’s affecting your Quality of Life here in New Hampshire? Let us know at [email protected].
It was a week filled with big news from all fronts. Here are some thoughts.
News Item: Chaim Conservative at Trade Deadline
There was a lot of talk radio yakking going on after Chaim Bloom went conservative during baseball’s highly active trade deadline. Especially with big names like Max Scherzer, Anthony Rizzo and Kris Bryant changing addresses. That wasn’t helped by the Sox getting swept by Tampa Bay in the direct aftermath. Many pointed to the Dodgers giving up major prospects to get Scherzer and Trea Turner as a reason for their dismay. I say it’s the exact opposite, the plan Bloom stuck to is the one his former boss Andrew Friedman used when he first got to L.A., which was to first clear up the payroll mess from the ridiculous Carl Crawford, Josh Beckett and Adrian Gonzalez 2012 trade with the Sox, and then build a deep high talent farm system that gave them low-cost production in key spots, providing the ability to spend big for difference-making outsiders (Mookie Betts) without blowing up the payroll. It also let them send blocked talent like Alex Verdugo elsewhere to outbid teams as they did to San Francisco after it appeared Scherzer was headed there. No matter what they did, the Sox don’t have enough now. So with Chaim showing me enough with the unheralded moves that helped fortify this team, I’m willing to sacrifice one year to keep the long-term plan on track because it’s led to nine straight NL West titles and three World Series in L.A. Especially with big future deals looming for Raffy Devers and Xander Bogaerts.
News Item: Lakers And Celtics Going in Different Directions
Anyone have any idea what the Celtics are doing? Because while the Lakers are finding a way to fit Russell Westbrook’s mammoth $44 million salary into their bloated salary cap the Celtics are giving away a 20-point scorer and a first-round pick to save a few million by swapping the bad contracts of Kemba Walker and 36-year-old Al Horford. Then giving up Tristan Thompson for a point guard who can’t shoot or stay healthy who’ll be playing on his fourth team in a five-year NBA career. Not that I love Thompson, but if he’s added to a package with Marcus Smart to a big man-needy team instead of being given away, the larger deal might let them get a point guard who can actually shoot and, as importantly, knows when not to.
As for L.A., many think the Westbrook deal doesn’t help their long-range shooting issues. True, but with LeBron playing point forward and Anthony Davis able to draw bigs outside, it opens the floor to let Westbrook attack the basket while also adding real help on the boards. And they still have their $9 million cap exception to add someone like Duncan Robinson to provide distance shooting. All of which makes it more likely L.A. wins a record-breaking 18th league title than it will be for the descending Celtics.
News Item: Major Change Likely Coming in College Football
It’s long past the point where fans can be surprised money is behind every horrible change in sport. It was the thing that ended the greatest college basketball league ever. I know the eight-team ACC was the model for everything else, but from its inception in 1979 and late into the 1990’s The Big East was college hoop heaven. Then came the lust for football money, which destroyed the intimacy, regional flavor and rivalries that made it special by doubling its size with teams/schools that had no connection to the Northeast. Followed by Syracuse and BC bolting for the ACC, which pretty much ended my love affair with college basketball, where I don’t know who plays in what conference and no longer care to find out.
The latest is word Texas and Oklahoma soon will leave the Big 12 for the football-crazed SEC. So much for the Power 5 and the regional rivalries it will destroy. Disregard your long time Big 12 business partners, as previously done by Texas A&M and Missouri so what’s the big deal? The only good thing is the insufferable Texas alumni behind the regular firing of head coaches will have this one stuffed back their throats. Because if they can’t win even enough in the inferior Big 12, how can they compete with Georgia, Clemson and Alabama? Just deserts. Roll Tide.
News Item: A Second Thought for Mookie in L.A.
Anyone else notice the Dodgers played Mookie Betts at second last weekend? Regular readers may recall me saying Alex Cora should consider playing him there when injuries hit right before the 2018 playoffs, which got “no you can’t” email blowback. L.A. says they’ll do it periodically to relieve stress on his body. Which seems weird as with double play breaks-ups and moving on every play most see playing infield as more stressful on the body than catching three fly balls a game in the outfield. No errors and a homer in his first game there, incidentally.
News Item: Biles Bails on Chance for Gold
Uber gymnast Simone Biles pulled away from the Olympics for mental health issues and naturally criticism followed on social media. I don’t know how people can criticize her, unless they’ve actually experienced what she goes through. I know I don’t have a clue what that feels like, so I think those talking about her in a negative way should stand down and show some compassion without firsthand knowledge of what dogs her.
News Item: Best Line of the Olympics So Far
It was the advice U.S. Men’s Basketball Coach Greg Popovich gave to Jayson Tatum after he put him in the starting line-up last week, which was, “act like you’re playing the Spurs.” A reference to the 60 points he put on the board against Pop’s team last winter. Which he did with a 27-point effort in a pivotal win over the Czech Republican.
NH Circuit Court judge recognized for innovative approach
The National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges has named Judge David D. King, Chief Administrative Judge of the New Hampshire Circuit Court, its 2021 Innovator of the Year, an award that recognizes one judge in the U.S. who has exhibited exceptional innovation in their state’s courts. King talked about the honor and what’s next for him and the Circuit Court.
What is the Circuit Court and your role within it?
In 2011, we took three courts — the district court, the probate court and the family division — and we collapsed them into one gigantic court, which is the New Hampshire Circuit Court. It has 34 locations … and about 90 percent of the case filings in the state. As the administrative judge, I’m sort of the manager of this piece of the court system. … The Circuit Court is like a giant rowboat, and my job is to get everybody — the judges, the clerks of court, the staff of the courts — rowing in the same direction. When everybody rows in the same direction, we’re able to do a lot of great things.
How did it feel, being named Innovator of the Year?
It was a particularly special honor to receive this award coming out of a pandemic, when every court and judge in the country had to be innovative just to keep the doors open. … By giving me the award, the Council is also recognizing all of the judges … clerks and staff that I work with … so I accept it on their behalf. They’re the ones who made me look good enough to get nominated.
How has the Circuit Court demonstrated innovation?
With ever-increasing restraints on our budget, we’ve really had to think outside the box. … We’ve done a lot of things that are new and innovative [among courts] around the country. For example, we started a call center … which answers every single phone call that comes into the court. … It’s taken over 4 million calls since we started it. I think it’s still the only court call center in the country.
How did the Circuit Court handle the pandemic?
Our highest priority was children … in abuse or neglect situations and delinquency situations … and people, mostly women, who needed protective orders in domestic violence cases … whose cases couldn’t be put on the back burner. Early on in the pandemic, our filings in domestic violence cases and cases of abuse and neglect of children were down; that would seem like a good thing, but we knew it was … only because our courthouses were essentially closed, so we started a system where domestic violence petitions could be filed by email — something we hadn’t done before. Our filings went back up. We also started doing abuse and neglect hearings by telephone, which, ironically, increased the attendance, because parents who hadn’t been active in cases, probably because they couldn’t take a day off from work or didn’t have transportation, all of a sudden were able to participate because they could call into a hearing. … We did over 150,000 hearings during the pandemic, most of them either by video or telephonically. … People were, in some ways, getting better access to justice during the pandemic.
What is the Circuit Court’s biggest challenge now?
Some of the case types, like small claims and civil cases, had to be put on the back burner during the pandemic, so we have thousands of cases backed up. Trying to figure out how we’re going to attack this backlog [while] not letting the priority cases slip at all is a huge challenge. … We’re also [expecting] to get hit with a tsunami of eviction cases, so we’ve been working closely with … New Hampshire Housing and New Hampshire legal systems to make sure that, before people get to the point of being evicted, every attempt has been made for them to access the federal funds that are available to both landlords and tenants so that they can stay in their housing.
What do you find fulfilling about your work?
I enjoy the challenge of dealing with a huge volume of cases … and figuring out ways to make sure that everyone who needs access to justice has a way to get to the Circuit Court; … prioritize our resources; handle cases efficiently; and triage the most important cases so that no one waits an inordinate amount of time for a decision from a judge when there’s a very important or emergent issue before the court.
What is your next goal?
Our goal this year was to increase our judicial positions, and we did get [funding for] four more judges. … My goal in the next budget cycle … is to address the staffing issue in the Circuit Court. … The Circuit Court is authorized to have 45 full-time judges, and today we have 33. … We’re losing people [to] the private sector because they can make more money there. We even lost someone who decided to go work at Dunkin’ Donuts because it paid more. I don’t like that. … We really need to address the compensation structure of our court system.
Featured photo: Judge David D. King. Courtesy photo.
